The active compound in P. viridis is the psychoactive alkaloid dimethyltryptamine.

DMT is “the spirit molecule”.

The “Businessman’s Trip”

In 1960s United States, the drug was known as the “businessman’s trip”, granting the user with a full-depth psychedelic experience, in considerably less time compared to substances like LSD or “magic” mushrooms.

Its action has a relatively short duration. But the effects are intense and have a rapid onset.

DMT can produce vivid mystical experiences, involving feelings of euphoria, hallucinations of geometric shapes, perceptions of a higher intelligence, extraterrestrials, “Machine Elves”. Even God. A hallucinogenic experience where the user feels able to “communicate with other intelligent life-forms”.

Although DMT is illegal in most countries, there has been growing interest in its medicinal and therapeutic potential.

Reported Therapeuthic Value

Ayahuasca had previously been studied in the context of addictions.

People who drink ayahuasca experience powerful visions, often mystical or transcendental in nature. Their minds may interpret these as offering self-revelatory insights leading to positive behavioural changes.

On this occasion, the researchers from Canada wanted to find about ayahuasca’s potential as a therapy for other treatment-resistant disorders, like eating disorders.

Dr Lafrance and her team interviewed 16 North Americans who had eating disorders and had consumed ayahuasca in ceremonial contexts.

Ten participants had been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The other six had been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa.

Eleven of them reported that their experience with ayahuasca led to reductions in eating disorder symptoms.

Most participants reported changes in how they perceived themselves.

Fourteen said that ayahuasca had made them better able to regulate their emotional state, also frequently reporting the drug altered the perception of their physical bodies.

Unexplored Potential

“Under the right circumstances, with the right kind of preparation and aftercare, the ceremonial use of ayahuasca shows promise as a potential adjunct to treatment for eating disorders,” said Lafrance.

However, strong conclusions cannot be drawn from those findings.

The study merely points to the need for more research, and fewer restrictions to carry out such research.

Meantime, before deciding to sport your best shaman hat and trying to contact the spiritual world…

Remember Ayahuasca use is not legal.

In fact, it’s a Class A / Schedule I drug.

And even more importantly, it may be entirely inappropriate based on your medical status or history.